Pollard: big announcement coming soon

[BCoffClone125]

I know a lot of alums who come back to football games just to tailgate then watch the game at a bar on Welch. I think a district this close to the stadium would do very well with that crowd. It would still be close to the stadium and tailgating lots and wouldn’t be as catered towards college students as Campustown bars. This has a lot of potential, really excited to see how it turns out.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

I don’t recommend watching a game that close to the venue. I’ve done it before for NFL. You hear the roar then have the delay to see what happened on TV. I am all for this district though. A great vision that will really tie a bow on Jamie’s legacy at Iowa state.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

My mouth dropped when I saw that rendering. That will be amazing.

 

[2speedy1]

What stores/restaurants/bar types would you want to see in it?

I would like to see
Cy's lockeroom (of course)
Scheels
Hy-vee - smaller for gameday groceries
Casey's
Bar that does live music named People's
Bar with outdoor games.

Gotta bring back the Keg shop don't we. LOL
In all seriousness,
Yes, you need a smallish convenience/grocery store of some sort, HyVee will do, wont need both that and Casey's.
The rest of your list looks pretty good.
Brewery or Tap house
Cy's Locker Room
Couple of smaller fresh food type places, sub shops, gyro shop, original Pizza, ice cream shop or similar.
Dave and Busters
Hooters

 

[NWICY]

The bar and restaurant idea is awesome on paper and horrible if you have to find actual people to run everything. Without heavy, heavy subsidies by athletics a bar and restaurant setup will never work. The location is awful for 300 days each year. Phenomenal on game days...awful otherwise.

I don't think 90% of people have an idea of how tough bars/restaurants are to make profitable.

Could this work in Austin? Most definitely: great weather year round, huge metropolitan area. Ames? Oh boy.

Scheman gets rented out a fair amount for meetings, I could see people either staying over, orswinging by for one after their conference is over for the day.

 

[Urbandale2013]

What stores/restaurants/bar types would you want to see in it?

I would like to see
Cy's lockeroom (of course)
Scheels
Hy-vee - smaller for gameday groceries
Casey's
Bar that does live music named People's
Bar with outdoor games.

One of their Fast and Fresh stores would work really well.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

Some sort of kids zone would be nice for families. Not sure how it makes money but I think it would be a hit

 

[NWICY]

If I'm reading correctly, there are fans that want a bigger pressbox instead of an entertainment district? Woof.

2 fans I think.

 

[wclarson]

Dear Lord!! Where would all the RV's park at now!!

View attachment 66882

Pollard said the lots on the planned lots on the east side of University. He said its too early in the process but even noted the possibility of having Electrical hookups in the new lots. The project would have a net increase in available parking.

 

[247cy]

Any chance they just move KC's Power and Light district up and plop it down? I mean, we already own it.

 

[BLRNerd]

Do we know if this is subsidized with taxpayer dollars unlike everything else that's getting renovated around the area?

Not opposed to the idea, I think it'll work especially if both Football and Basketball are quite successful into the future

 

[FinalFourCy]

Obviously a cy's locker room.

Bars\Restaurants (i hear there's an ISU alum that founded a national chain...) I would hope that these buildings are built in such a way that these bars can have rooftop space. That would be a great alternative on gameday for those that don't want to set up a tailgate but would still like to be outdoors taking in the atmosphere

Looks like a movie theater is part of it, and probably a good add for ames.

I could see Dave and Buster's putting a location here.

Some type of Top Golf would be great imo, particularly if the driving range utilized otherwise undevelopable floodplain. It’s basically an indoor/outdoor sports bar, and would be an anchor on non-game days. They have some in similar climates, although I think the actual Top Golf brand would target DSM, so it would need to be a developer that wants to get ahead and build their own.

 

[JM4CY]

Obviously it’s a huge undertaking and a lot of pieces have to fall into place but I just don’t see how that thing would not make a crap ton of money.

 

[alarson]

Do we know if this is subsidized with taxpayer dollars unlike everything else that's getting renovated around the area?

Not opposed to the idea, I think it'll work especially if both Football and Basketball are quite successful into the future

Could make a case for an economic development grant for it i would think.

 

[alarson]

Some type of Top Golf would be great imo, particularly if the driving range utilized otherwise undevelopable floodplain. It’s basically an indoor/outdoor sports bar, and would be an anchor on non-game days. They have some in similar climates, although I think the actual Top Golf brand would target DSM, so it would need to be a developer that wants to get ahead and build their own.

I would doubt top golf would ever locate here. One, they'd need a good amount of space outward, which wouldnt really fit in those lots. Plus ames is far smaller than their typical market. Also there's no way they'd locate there if the rumors that theyre already looking at WDM are true.

 

[CloneGuy8]

Seems like a perfect spot for a 2nd Barntown location

 

[cyfanatic13]

A smallish sportsbook would do pretty well there, I'd imagine. Or at least with my friends it'd be very popular

 

[FinalFourCy]

I would doubt top golf would ever locate here. One, they'd need a good amount of space outward, which wouldnt really fit in those lots. Plus ames is far smaller than their typical market. Also there's no way they'd locate there if the rumors that theyre already looking at WDM are true.

Some type of Top Golf would be great imo, particularly if the driving range utilized otherwise undevelopable floodplain. They have some in similar climates, although I think the actual Top Golf brand would target DSM, so it would need to be a developer that wants to get ahead and build their own.

Ames is far smaller market than what typically has P&L or Titletown type areas.

 

[HandSanitizer]

I bet Seneca would like to move WingStop to there.
also, I have noticed like 5+ hotels being built in the past 1-2 years in Ames. is demand that much different than 10 years ago? I am all for it, but just surprised they are going up so fast.